YOUR LIFE A-Z MASTERY

THE PANAMA CANAL - 100 YEARS OF MASTERY

MASTERY

Self- MASTERY is a skill that is necessary to survive childhood with ourself-esteem intact.  If our parents “over-functioned” for us and we could not even tie our shoes so to speak, then it is natural as kids to feel inept.  If our family system neglected us, it is likely that MASTER is something you never really cherished or celebrated.  Today as adults, when you are around a child, the normal thing to do is to clap and praise a child for the most innocuous events, like tying his or her shoe.  That praise helps the child feel confident and eager to try again and even try to perfect their former feat.  Praise builds MASTERY.  Neglect or criticism tears MASTERY down and creates a sense of inner defeat.  We cannot keep blaming our parents for our lack of confidence, self-esteem, or self-worth.  The only person to blame now is our self.  It is never too late to MASTER your life, your skills, or your dreams.  If you keep focusing on what you did not receive, guess what, you still won’t receive it.  So, learn to practice whatever it is that you want to be different in your life until you establish a sense of MASTERY.  MASTERY requires practice, fortitude, and trying again and again until you feel good about your skill level or present situation. MASTERY, being really good at something builds your self-esteem and self-image.  MASTERY of one thing leads to the energy to practice MASTERY with something else.   

YOUR LIFE A-Z: LIST

The Perfect List APP

LIST

Making a LIST is one of the most important motivating tools that exist.  It is important that you choose to utilize the gift of LIST making.  There are various types of LIST that we need to create and then manage in order to live quality daily lives.  Making a daily to-do LIST that includes all of the mundane necessary things that must be done in order to live life with efficiency is very important. If you will create a daily to do LIST and keep it for a week, I believe that will create a sense of celebration at the end of the week because you will actually see how much you accomplish and can be proud.  That LIST includes doing the dishes and taking the trash out.  Then create a project LIST.  That LIST includes things like spring cleaning, cleaning the garage and redoing the landscape.  Set a start and finish time of the project LIST.  There tends to be one more thing that each of those projects could call for, but if you have an end time then you are free to check the project off of your LIST for now and you can add a more specific “project” to the new LIST, such as painting the work bench in the garage.  You will discover that the more specific you make any LIST the more you will accomplish.  It is important that you review your LIST on a regular if not daily basis.  That is LIST management.  Do not forget to do the wonderful bucket LIST. It is the most important LIST of all!  

YOUR LIFE A-Z READ

READ
What is it that you always wanted to know or to do?  READ about it.  Find out as much as you can about those subjects that interest you.  Make yourself a research project and become an expert on anything you want to know about.  READ as a way to educate, stimulate, and develop passion.  There are so many things out there to do and to discover and talented authors can take you there by the way they make the words on a page dance life right into your being.
Here are some interesting reads if you want to know something more about spirituality and Buddhism, read Pema Chodron’s, The Places that Scare You. To enjoy an entirely different take on Buddhism read, Buddha Walks Into the Bar by Lodro Rinzler.  If you want to understand the history and spiritual connection with the Virgin Mary, read Clarissa Pinkola Estes book, Untie the Strong Woman: Blessed Mother’s Immaculate Love for the Wild Soul or if you have an avid researcher inside give the History of God a whirl by Karen Armstrong.  For a psychological vacation, read Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection or if you are feeling lost try The Passion Test by Atwood and Atwood.  Want to explore the caves of your own soul spend some time working on Janet Conner’s Writing Down the Soul or the Lotus and the Lily.  Of course there are many wonderful novels to read, so whatever suits your fancy, go explore the world of READING today.  Don’t forget that I have IN A MOMENT’S NOTICE: A PSYCHOLOGIST’S JOURNEY WITH BREAST CANCER and it is just a click away at Amazon or Barnes and Nobles.

YOUR LIFE A-Z: ADVENTURE

MOON LIGHT MAKES ALL ADVENTURES A BIT MYSTERIOUS

ADVENTURE

Warriors are always looking for an adventure because they are always in training to be the best they can be.  In order for them to be on guard, focused and alert, adventure is important to their daily life.  Life is an adventure and the more we enjoy the daily grind the more we can create enthusiasm in our daily life.  Adventures create psychological arousal allowing the brain to get out of its box and explore options and possibilities.  However, a key component of any adventure is that the outcome is not guaranteed and often unknown.  If one is going to skydive, you do everything that you are supposed to do to prepare, from checking out the reputation of the company to following the instructions in your pre-flight.  Tandem is absolutely a must for new divers, but there are unusual things that can go wrong.  No guarantees.  But if you really allow yourself to break out of your denial, there is no guarantee that you are going to be alive by 6:00 p.m. this evening regardless of how safe you live your life. There are no guarantees.  Therefore, stay out of that box of yours, be a little zany and take a risk today.  What adventure do you want?  A vacation to an exotic place? A new hike that you have not explored yet?  Create a new dish for dinner.  Be adventurous regardless of what limitations you think you have; discover the gusto of life by making it a daily adventure.

YOUR LIFE A-Z YES

YES! Opens Possibilities and Options 

YES

Say yes to life today.  Stop putting off all of those things you have wanted to do but never got the courage to do or thought you did not have the money, or whatever excuse you kept feeding yourself.  Today is the day to say YES.  Decide to really get into the stream of life and stop sitting on the side-lines wishing and wanting with your would have -could have-should haves.  Say yes. 

Name the first three things that come to mind when you think about what you have always or (even recently) wanted to do but just could not make a plan to do it.  Out of those three things on your list, choose one that you are going to set your mind to go and do.  It doesn't have to meet someone else's criteria, it does not have to be practical.  It only has to be something you have wanted to do or to have. 

Now ask yourself the three questions: 

What do I need to do to make this into a YES?

How do I do those things?

What is the first step? 

Start there. Once you start acting on your YES, you will be surprised at how much energy will begin to flow into your being to make it happen.  Yes, there will be obstacles, perhaps lots of obstacles, but obstacles are also overcome one step at a time.  So when you hit your first obstacle, remember your YES and use the three questions to get around, through or over your obstacle and back into your YES.

 Photo: RBDilley 

YOUR LIFE A-Z QUICK

IF A RIVER WAS NOT QUICK, NOTHING NEW WOULD GET CREATED

QUICK

Go fast!  I have observed I move slow when I am doing something I don't really want to do. As a result, it takes me twice as long to do the "dreaded" chore, rather than just busting it out of the way. 
Today, observe your pace and ask yourself what would happen if you picked up your pace.  Usually we are focusing on slowing down because we have so much to do.  Thus this may feel awkward, giving yourself permission to do your list quickly but see how that works for you.  Don't dawdle your time away.  Get on and off of your Facebook and email quickly.  Go through that pile on your desk and get those papers in the circular file and finish loose ends that you have been putting off forever.  Quick, make your grocery list in minutes.  Rush through the aisles at the grocery store and don't waste unnecessary time looking at "stuff" you have never seen before.   You can always take a leisurely walk through the aisles of the grocery store sometime,  but you don't have to do it every time you go shopping.  Watch where you are wasting time in your daily routine and speed up some of those activities.  Maybe the reason you are putting off those necessary daily chores is because you are wasting too much time getting them finished.  Put on some fast music and make it happen.  Set a timer while you are on Face Book or email in order to get a reality check about how much time you are really spending there, cut it in half.  Quick! Quick.  Get things done.   

Your LifeA-Z DEVELOP

Well-Developed Nest Building on What The Wasp Started Just Keeps Growing. 

DEVELOP

Yes, develop the thoughts and ideas that you have been wondering about.  Build on what already exist and what is working in your life.  Nourish it, like fertilizer on a tree, so it can bloom fully and deeply bringing new life to old works.  You do not have to recreate the wheel.  Examine your life and ask yourself what do you like about what is working?  Then establish a plan to develop those positive things and accentuate them this year.  Create a three-step action plan outlined below to grow, mature, nourish, and enhance the parts of your life that already work well for you. In doing so, you will also enable them to work better.  

If you are not happy with anything in your life, you have fallen into a place of apathy.  In order to move out of apathy, make yourself list three things that are working in your life.  Did you pay your rent or mortgage?  What plan can you develop to make that a positive choice eliciting a positive feeling?  Force yourself to list one positive action you have taken toward change and develop it further.  And lastly, force yourself to write down a desire that you have been ignoring.  List it and develop it.  If you work this Twenty-Minute Coach Your Life A-Z you will discover positive changes blooming for you in a few months. 

Photo: Pam Smead